A Repeat Offender Charged with Sexually Attacking Women at CTA Bus Stop on the West Side
A man described by a Cook County judge as someone who has “terrorized the community over the past 15 years” is facing charges for sexually assaulting two women at a CTA bus stop on the West Side.
Deandre Smith, 39, was apprehended by Judge Luciano Panici Jr., who labeled him as “a violent person who is randomly violent with people he does not know on the street.” Records from the Chicago Police Department reveal that Smith has been arrested a total of 22 times since 2014.
According to prosecutors, Smith had no prior acquaintance with either of the women he allegedly attacked last Tuesday.
The first victim, a 28-year-old woman, had just finished work and was making her way to a CTA bus stop on the 3500 block of West Roosevelt Road when Smith approached her on a bicycle. She overheard him making a lewd sexual comment and asking her intrusive questions. Despite her requests for him to leave her alone, he persisted in making explicit remarks and followed her to the bus stop.
Smith cornered the woman inside the bus shelter and continued with his offensive behavior. When she attempted to walk away, he grabbed her inappropriately over her clothes. Even though she managed to escape from him, he pursued her, removed his mask, and made obscene gestures. He then stooped down, approached her inappropriately, and slapped her buttocks, as per prosecutors.
Seeing Chicago police officers at a nearby Dunkin’, the woman sought their help, but they did not respond, and Smith rode away on Roosevelt Road.
The second victim, a 22-year-old woman, was targeted by Smith as she got off a bus and bent down to tie her shoe. He approached her from behind, touched her inappropriately, and squeezed her buttocks. As he crossed the street, both victims followed him, and the first victim once again tried to get the attention of the nearby officers without success.
During the pursuit, a passing driver joined in, and Smith eventually fell off his bicycle and fled into an alley. He grabbed a bottle and threw it at the second victim, narrowly missing her, before fleeing into another alley. The victims and the driver called 911, leading to Smith’s arrest by officers.
Although surveillance footage captured some of the incidents, not all of it was recorded, according to prosecutors.
